Great Barrington — At its meeting on Thursday, September 22, the town’s Planning Board discussed — but ultimately decided not to send — a letter to the Select Board concerning the ongoing crisis facing Housatonic Water Works customers.
The proposed letter, as reviewed by the board, stated, “As a board concerned with the economic development of our town, we recognize that Housatonic is well positioned, because of its existing infrastructure, to provide commercial and residential needs that are essential to economic sustainability. We also recognize that the current water quality situation could be a hindrance to the economic development potential of the hamlet.”
During the discussion of the proposed letter, members of the board discussed the economic impacts to the town and its residents of the ongoing situation with the company. “I was talking to a friend of mine in Housatonic recently, and they were telling me how much they spend each month on bottled water,” Board Chairman Brandee Nelson said. “Housatonic Water Works, in my opinion, should wake up and run the numbers on how much residents are spending on bottled water and see where it compares to the water rates they could achieve if people were able to use the water [the company] is producing. They are saying that they can’t make certain upgrades because they need rate increases. But if they were selling more water, if the water was of good quality, that problem may diminish significantly.”
“The water problem, and all the publicity it is currently getting, is making it virtually impossible to sell a house in Housatonic,” Clerk Jonathan Hankin said. “It’s creating an adverse impact.”
Board member Jeremy Higa agreed and said that he knew of a family that was interested in buying a property in Housatonic, but then eventually decided against it because of what they heard about the water situation.
The draft letter requested regular updates from the Select Board concerning the situation with the company. However, members of the board felt that the proposed request would be going too far with the Select Board. “It’s a tricky situation because Housatonic Water Works is a private company,” Chairman Nelson said. “We don’t get monthly reports on the operations of any other private company, but at the same time, it’s a company that has a direct impact on many residents. I’m not comfortable sending the letter as it is. It needs a little bit of massaging. I’m not opposed to being clear about the fact that the company’s water operations are resulting in a negative economic impact on the village.”
Chairman Nelson added that she thinks the board should offer any letters of support necessary to the Select Board in pursuing remedies with the state. “The letters should state that water quality may be an issue that is impeding the development and adaptive reuse of some of the mill buildings [in town],” Nelson said. “I’m comfortable in stating that we want a monthly update.”
Members of the board eventually agreed to discuss the draft letter again at the next meeting.
In other business: the board unanimously voted to forward plans for T-Mobile to upgrade its wireless telecommunications facility at 425 Stockbridge Rd. to Building Inspector Edwin May. According to Town Planner Chris Rembold, “because the facility is not changing in any remarkable way, it is entitled to approval within a certain amount of time as per federal law.”
However, the town’s zoning bylaws state that both the Select Board and Planning board have an opportunity to review the company’s plans before permits are issued. Rembold added that the Selectboard reviewed the plans at a previous meeting and had no comment on them.
Company representative Elizabeth Jamenson stated that the plans call for the swapping out of six existing antennas and the installation of three more, including a 5G antenna. Jamenson added that the planned upgrades would not result in an increase in the height of the cell phone tower itself at the location.
